I shared a sag for a few miles with fellow riders tuckered out on Day Five of Ride the Rockies. From front left, Tom Swanson of Westminster, JJ Mueller of St. Louis, Mo. In back from left, Sandee Swanson of Westminster and 16-year-old Morgan Summers of Anchorage, Alaska.

Er, not blisters on the feet, either. I had heard about these types of blisters — everyone talks about them — but I didn’t really believe it. How could it be? Where would it be?

An REI employee talked me into chamois butter before the trip. He told me to trust him, that I would use it.

But where? How? Doesn’t it just soak into the bike shorts?

Oh, 358 miles and five days in and I know exactly where to apply the chamois butter. Everyone has a theory about what works.

In 2012, I asked a former colleague whether he was interested in running the Chicago Marathon. Two weeks later, he asked if I was interested in Ride the Rockies. I got a road bike, got on the tour, and have yet to regret it. This will be my third RTR.

Daniel Petty is the digital director of sports for The Denver Post. He competed in track and cross country all four years inc college, but that was six years ago. Now, he's doing Ride the Rockies for the first time.